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English 1b3 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Conjunction 'than'
This suggests that there were more people at the meeting than might have been expected.
than=conjunction
Is it joining the following two clauses, the first being a noun clause and the second being what?
there were more people than there might have been expected
If this above correctly shows what 'than' is joining, should we use the original phrasing or this one?
Thank you kindly
than=conjunction
Is it joining the following two clauses, the first being a noun clause and the second being what?
there were more people than there might have been expected
If this above correctly shows what 'than' is joining, should we use the original phrasing or this one?
Thank you kindly
Top answer
Hi, This suggests that there were more people at the meeting than might have been expected. than=conjunction Is it joining the following two clauses, the first being a noun clause and the second being what? there were more people than there might have been expected If this above correctly shows what 'than' is joining, should we use the original phrasing or this one?
- Hi, This suggests that there were more people at the meeting than might have been expected.
- than=conjunction Is it joining the following two clauses, the first being a noun clause and the second being what?
- there were more people than there might have been expected If this above correctly shows what 'than' is joining, should we use the original phrasing or this one?
- I interpret this as This suggests that there were more people at the meeting than ( the number of people ) that might have been expected.
- Consider these simpler forms of the sentence.
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9 Answers
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Hi,
This suggests that there were more people at the meeting than might have been expected.
than=conjunction
Is it joining the following two clauses, the first being a noun clause and the second being what?
there were more people than there might have been expected
If this above correctly show
This suggests that there were more people at the meeting than might have been expected.
than=conjunction
Is it joining the following two clauses, the first being a noun clause and the second being what?
there were more people than there might have been expected
If this above correctly show
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No, it is a passive construction with subject omitted:
There were more than might have been expected (by you or me or the staff or a reasonable person)
There were more than might have been expected (by you or me or the staff or a reasonable person)
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Mister Micawber
There were more than might have been expected (by you or me or the staff or a reasonable person)
Thank you both for your help. However, I must have misunderstood you:
My understanding is that a conjunction always joins equal sentence parts--though some of the words can be omitted:
She is sh
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What do you mean by 'equal'? Conjunctions join all sorts of clauses and phrases. Trying to stick words in that were never omitted in the first place is just the reader's option-- both Clive's and my insertions are possible-- and more natural than the one you attempted.
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Hi,
So what words are missing, which can be re-inserted showing that 'than' is joining equal sentence parts?
I thought I already explained that.
In any event, I think you are taking too narrow a view of 'than'. I prefer the definition in my dictionary, which says that it introduces the second element in a comparison.
Clive
So what words are missing, which can be re-inserted showing that 'than' is joining equal sentence parts?
I thought I already explained that.
In any event, I think you are taking too narrow a view of 'than'. I prefer the definition in my dictionary, which says that it introduces the second element in a comparison.
Clive
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Mister MicawberWhat do you mean by 'equal'?Conjunctions join two prepositional phrases, or two noun phrases, or two clauses, etc.
But they don't join a clause to a phrase etc
I am smarter than him.
If we ignore that 'that' can be a preposition, and if we accept that it is a conjunction, then this sentence is incorrect, because we ar
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My 2 cents here.
(Re-write 1) This suggests that there were more people at the meeting than one might have expected how many would come.
The adjective which is compared here in its degree is “many,” and if we put “how many” right after “than” by using passive form, we get
(Re-write 2) This suggests that there were more people at the meeting
(Re-write 1) This suggests that there were more people at the meeting than one might have expected how many would come.
The adjective which is compared here in its degree is “many,” and if we put “how many” right after “than” by using passive form, we get
(Re-write 2) This suggests that there were more people at the meeting
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English 1b3
Conjunctions join two prepositional phrases, or two noun phrases, or two clauses, etc.
But they don't join a clause to a phrase etc
I am smarter than him.
If we ignore that 'than' can be a preposition, and if we accept that it is a conjunction, then this sentence is incorrect, because we are joining a clause to a noun (phrase--an
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